Warangal cops seize Rs 5.80 crore on way to three People’s Front candidates

Hyderabad: A day before the campaign for Telangana elections is scheduled to come to an end, the police on Tuesday morning seized Rs 5.8 crore cash being smuggled in a car reportedly to be distributed among three candidates belonging to the People’s Front. People’s Front comprises Congress, Telugu Desam Party, CPI and Telangana Jana Samithi.

Warangal Urban Police Commissioner V Ravinder said the key accused, Keerthi Kumar Jain, had revealed in the interrogation that the cash was meant to be delivered at the places of three candidates of the People’s Front. “Detailed investigation is going on,” he said. Jain is a businessman based in Goshamahal area of Old City in Hyderabad. The amount was to be divided into Rs 1.5 crore, Rs 2 crore and Rs 2.3 crore to be handed over to respective candidates, allegedly for distribution to voters during the elections. Telangana will go to polls on December 7.

Keerthi Kumar, his driver and another assistant have been arrested, as they could not furnish any documents for the cash.

It may be mentioned that money and liquor are flowing freely in the state, leaving the election commission authorities worried. With today’s hefty seizure, the money confiscated during the poll season crossed Rs 100 crore. Nearly 10 lakh litres of liquor had been seized.

While there are just four days remaining before the people of Telangana decide who should rule them for the next five years, money and liquor are flowing freer than water in the state. Hell-bent on ‘capturing’ the power for five years, candidates, irrespective of the political parties they belong to, are handing out cash for votes.